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From The Times
September 19, 2009
Ahmadinejad faces test of strength as fresh
protests sweep Iran
Martin Fletcher
11 COrvLIENTS RECOMMENE? (27)
4 IMAGE :1 012 Q
The lslamio Republic has seldom seen such scenes. President
Ahmadinejad had to cut short an interview on state-controlled
television because chants of “Ahmadi! Ahmadil Resignl Resign!”
could clearly be heard in the background.
After two quiescent summer months, huge new protests erupted
across Iran yesterday, wfth popular anger at the alleged theft of
June's presidential election inflamed by the subsequent killing,
torture, rape and show trials of opponents of the regime.
Mir Hossein Mousavi, 68, the former Prime Minister and de facto
opposition leader, had to abandon plans to join the huge
anti-government demonstrations in Tehran when hardliners
attacked him and his car.
Ayatollah Khatami, 65, a popular former President who supports
the opposition, was knocked to the ground, had his robe ripped
and lost his cleric's turban — a black garment signifying that he is
a sayyid, or descendant of the Prophet.
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MULTIMEDIA
Pictures: Al-Ouds Day
protests
injuries.
In Tehran and other cities, tens of
thousands of demonstrators
hijacked Iran's annual al-Quds Day
rallies in support of the Palestinian
cause and turned them into
protests against the oppression of
Iranians. The security forces hit
back with teargas and baton
charges. There were violent
confrontations between
government and opposition
supporters in the squares and
avenues of central Tehran and
numerous reports of arrests and
In an address to the Friday prayers gathering in Tehran, Mr
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Escorted by his bodyguards, the reformist former Iranian President Mohammad Khatami, centre, is
attacked by hard-liners as he attends Ouds Day rally in Tehran
N V
TIMES ARCHIVE:
IRANIAN REVOLUTION
1 of4
9/19/2009 7:43 PM
Ahmadinejad faces test of strength as fresh protests sweep Iran- Times.., http://www, meson1im.co.u1c'to1/news/wor1d/n'iidd1e_east/artic1e684O...
come down on them.”
A 69-year-old merchant said: “I came to show solidarity with the
youth of my country. The regime is destroying Islam and Iran.”
A young female student said: “The cheating, the raping, the killing
and the torture drive you mad. I've come to express my hatred for
Ahmadinejad and his protector, that so-catted Great Leader of the
Revolution.”
The Revolutionary Guards had warned that demonstrations would
be crushed and the security forces responded with baton
charges, teargas and pepper gas, but there were reports of
protesters hurling stones and beating pro-government basiji
militiamen.
The security forces also cordoned off Tehran University, where
Mr Ahmadinejad addressed thousands of government supporters
bussed in for Friday prayers. Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, the
former President, had addressed Friday prayers on al-Quds Day
for most of the past quarter century, but was barred yesterday
because of his opposition sympathies.
Mr Ahmadinejad used the occasion to deliver another verbal
onslaught on Israel, saying that the Holocaust — the West's
“pretext” for creating the Zionist state — was “a tie based on an
unprovable and mythical claim”.
He said that confronting Israel was a “national and religious duty”
and warned Israel's supporters: “This regime's days are
numbered. It is on its way to collapse. It is dying.”
Mr Ahmadinejad was speaking just days before his scheduled
address to the UN General Assembly and his words provoked
outrage abroad. David Miliband, the British Foreign Secretary,
called his comments abhorrent. The White House issued a
condemnation. The World Jewish Congress urged UN member
states to boycott his speech.
Yesterday's protests show that the Iranian regime is still far from
secure and that, with summer over, its problems will mount. The
football season has begun, meaning large and volatile crowds will
gather each weekend. At the same time students, who are
traditionally in the vanguard of Iranian protest movements, are
pouring back into the capital for the start of the new academic
year next week.
There are rumours that the regime may shut down some
universities for a term. It is said to be purging “suspect” teachers
and increasing the number of pro-government basiji volunteers in
schools and colleges. In recent weeks the regime has cancelled
other public events, including the commemoration of Imam Ali's
death at the mausoleum of Ayatollah Khomeini. During August it is
understood to have moved three big football matches out of
Tehran or had them played behind closed doors.
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COIltrOlOfIflIfl
The Ayatollah has inspired the
mess protest movement
against the Shah's rule
Will the Shah be toppled
from his shaky throne?
The mind and heart of
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2 of 4
9/19/2009 7:43 PM
Abniadinejad faces test of strength as fresh protests sweep Iran- Times.., http://www.finesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east'article684O...
Andrew Carpenter wrote:
The worst thing about this horror story seems to be his desire to see
his whole Country going up in smoke..This will surely happen if he
continues to goad the USA and Israel.
The sad thing is that many many rational, even minded folk will get
caught up in it and die. The minute America says !!go ahead!! to
Israel, it will firstly be the end of Iran; as a Country and a People.. ItlI
also be an end to peace as we know it for the next twenty
generations. ..End of days.
September 19, 2009 11:13 PM BST
RECOMMEND? (2)
esra aksoy wrote:
Obama did well to call off the shield plans. It is time for hypocritical
Europeans to face the reality and Middle East problems rather than
picking the dirt in thier backyards.
September 19, 2009 9:40 PM BST
RECOMMEND?
marcus toomster wrote:
Why is it that we hear nothing from that silent majority!! of moderate
UK muslims on this brutal repression of democracy in Iran?
September 19, 2009 8:27 PM BST
RECOMMEND? (2)
John Schiuter wrote:
Wonder why Iran doesnt trust its people? Sad to have a government
of thugs.
September 19, 2009 6:42 PM BST
RECOMMEND? (3)
Mark Love Iran wrote:
Obviously, mail is edited and/or deleted before exhibiting...
September 19, 2009 6:27 PM BST
RECOMMEND?
Andy B wrote:
Although lye never had the pleasure of visiting Iran, lye met many
Iranians, and developed a fondness for the people and for the
country. From what I know, Iran is ready to be free, and ready to be
a democracy. Thats what the people want. My heart is with the
people of Iran. I hope this deep culture and ancient civilisation can
flower again, free from the crushing, deadening power of the
mullahs.
September 19, 2009 5:23 PM BST
RECOMMEND? (6)
Mike Johnson wrote:
I wish all the good luck to the people of Iran, to crush tyranny. I hope
they get the freedom they are fighting for.
September 19, 2009 1:15 PM BST
RECOMMEND? (12)
Cohn Horsman wrote:
When Mr Ahmadinejad affends a religious rally as part of the
congregation, he appears, by his body language and facial
expressions, to be immersed in an agonising spiritual experience
while listening to the words of the Mullah.
Does he then go back to his office in this same state of contorted
mind, and then to make important decisions for the future and
policies of Iran?
Or does he return to some sense of, what most people would judge
as balanced normality, when away from the religious setting.
If his decisions are influenced by his own and others religious
emotions, then that seems a most etraordinary way to try and run a
country. If that is the case then it is unsurprising that the majority of
sensible Iranians are rising up against him.
September 19, 2009 11:51 AM BST
RECOMMEND? (7)
sara s wrote:
Ahmadinejad is a danger for all people in the world. He is enemy of
humanity.
September 19, 2009 10:49 AM BST
RECOMMEND? (20)
Hus Darbari wrote:
The very events that the regime have initiated to show peoples
approval of them,are now turning to platforms for their
opposition.History repeats itselfWhat inspired the mass against the
Shah is inspiring the Iranian-youth of today. If ever the wealth of a
nation was decimated by a corrupt regime,it is present day Iran.
September 19, 2009 10:46 AM BST
RECOMMEND? (16)
3 of 4 9/19/2009 7:43 PM
